so what's going on?

I know I have been quiet on news. This means I have been a busy Lakeland Jo. My life is never boring- good or bad, but never boring!

I had a couple of weeks of saintliness where I looked at clothes and bought nothing. The halo got broken at some point and a few new bits and pieces have appeared in the wardrobe ready for the elusive spring and summer weather.

If I can explain myself a little. I have always been overweight. Sometimes a bit, sometimes a lot. I always tried to look nice. I bought good quality, well fitting clothes and interesting jewellery and I think I looked very nice a lot of the time. But I was big, and I took little interest in clothes really. More interested in what fitted me and where I could get it.

But now, many stone lighter I have suddenly become rather obsessed with fashion and clothes. I am still losing weight slowly but surely- my appetite is small but no longer non existent. I graze and make an effort to eat regularly. I eat good stuff most of the time but not a great deal. I used to be very greedy; now I spend time when I can looking obsessively at what other people are wearing and making inner judgements about smart or interesting they look.

I had plenty of chances this weekend. While teenager went on rugby tour in Scotland, other half

and I went to stay with our lovely friend Martin in Newcastle, and we went to the St Patrick day race meeting at Newcastle race course. The fashions were out and about. I managed to find somewhere to sit down so I could watch the show. I was glued. In between ( some very successful) betting there was plenty to watch. Some very ill advised dresses, gallons of fake tan, tons of spidery false eye lashes and enough make- up to sink a ship. I was mesmerised. There were a lot of 'off the shoulder' outfits, some very short skirts, some very tight fitting suits on men with bright ties. We are country folk these days, and our eyes were on stalks.

I didn't see a horse in the flesh until the end of the meeting. It was a packed event. Badly organised, with queues every-where for everything. We arrived early and were lucky to get a seat. It was too cold to go outside but too crowded to stand on the balcony. We had a tv next to our table. I could see my winners on there!

Other half and I went to London this week to the Royal Marsden. They want me monitored closer to home now. I will be looked after by a local team. They can't make anymore interventions now, and they are keen not to keep trailing us down to London for no reason. It was hard to accept though knew it had to come. I love and trust my lovely surgeon Mr Barton. His work is done and he needs to move onto other worthy souls. It is hard parting with him!

However, I won't miss the long trips and having other half take two days out of office. I won't miss waiting in line for the clinic ( this time running late a spectacular two and a half hours!). It is very tiring and it makes sense now to keep it local.

I will, however, still go and stay with my dear friend Louise who has been such kind and splendid hostess to me and my family while we have been involved with the Marsden. She is not getting rid of us- that's for sure. And neither is London and all its delights. We will be back soon.

Anyway, I need to go. I have an Elle magazine to read: wall to wall fashion. And a round of applause please: this was my first post typed on my new Apple Mac pro. Lovely :)